Stye eyeAn eye stye is a bright red lump that forms along the edges of the eye lid. The lump is tough to touch, and may be filled with pus depending on the extent of the infection. The stye usually forms on the outer part of the eyelids, but may sometimes be located in the inner region. The infection that leads up to the swelling is also known as a hordeolum. While it causes great discomfort, an eye stye rarely affects one’s vision.

Sties are the result of a bacterial infection that occurs when dirt, grim and makeup clog in the eye’s oil glands. The result is blockage and infection of the affected eye. Other factors that contribute to this condition include stress, depression and poor hygiene. An upsurge in one’s hormonal levels may also trigger the infection.

Symptoms associated with the infection include a fiery sensation in the affected eye, eye discharge, inflammation and intense itching. Some people will experience heightened sensitivity to bright light and other irritants in the environment. Eye sties are pretty common, so it helps to know what natural remedies to use to relieve the discomfort. Below are some of the options available for you whenever you need to treat the stye at home.

1. Raw Turmeric

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1 Tablespoon of turmeric, 2 cups of water, a strainer and a clean towel.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Raw turmeric has long been used for its amazing medicinal benefits in the treatment of a wide array of conditions. Its excellent anti-bacterial properties allow the herb to treat and eliminate the sty fast. Additional benefits of using turmeric include the reduction of pain and inflammation as well as providing you with relief from the discomfort. This remedy is used topically for best results.

Directions:

  1. Place the powdered turmeric in a bowl containing the water and stir well.
  2. Boil the mixture until you remain with just about a cup of the turmeric solution.
  3. Allow the mixture to cool so that it is comfortable enough to wash your eyes with.
  4. Strain the mixture to effectively remove the remnant powder.
  5. Rinse the affected eye with the turmeric solution repeatedly for 2 minutes.
  6. Repeat the process thrice daily for 5 days to treat the stye naturally.

 

2. Warm Compress:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: A soft face towel hot water.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Using a warm compress is one of the fastest ways for naturally treating an eye stye. This is because the increased heat allows for greater blood circulation to the affected eye, thus speeding up the healing progress. In cases where the stye is filled with pus, the warm compress effectively enhances the drainage process. Overall, this reduces pain, and makes it easier to heal. All you need for this process is a soft towel that does not exacerbate the infection plus hot water.

Directions:

  1. Soak soft face towel in the hot water for 30 seconds.
  2. Squeeze the excess water but leave the towel just damp enough to accomplish the purpose of the remedy.
  3. Place the hot towel over the affected eye for 5 minutes per session.
  4. Repeat this severally to allow for total drainage of the pus.
  5. Use the towel to wipe the pus.
  6. Use this remedy thrice daily until the stye is eliminated.
  7. NOTE that if both eyes are affected by the infection, you are advised to use two different towels for each eye.

 

3. Aloe Vera Gel:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Aloe vera leaf (freshly cut), cotton wool and warm water to rinse .
Difficulty: Easy

 

Aloe vera is a popular home remedy for the treatment of eye sties, thanks to its diverse healing properties. The gel extracted from the leaf not only soothes the affected eye, it also allows for the plant’s antibacterial properties to heal the infection. Regular use of the remedy also reduces the inflammation in the affected eye so that overall, the gel improves the healing of the lumpy eyelid. If you do not have access to aloe vera leaf for freshly produced gel, you can always use aloe vera juice produced commercially.

Directions:

  1. Clean the leaf well before cutting it up to release the gel.
  2. Collect the gel in a shallow bowl and then use the sterile cotton wool to scoop it.
  3. Use the cotton wool to place the gel on the affected eyelid.
  4. Leave the gel on for 15 minutes for its healing properties to set in.
  5. You will then rinse your eye, making sure you splash some warm water on your eyes.
  6. Use this remedy at least thrice daily until the infection clears.

 

4. Green Tea:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: A green tea bag and warm water.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Green tea is loved for the natural treatment of eye sties, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. When applied on the eye, the tea’s tannic acid helps get rid of the infection-causing bacteria, thus hastening the healing process. The teabag is also laden with nutrients that provide great relief from the discomfort. In the absence of green teabags, black teabags work just as well.

Directions:

  1. Place the green teabag in the water and allow it to steep for 5 minutes.
  2. Drain the water and proceed to squeeze the excess water from the teabag.
  3. Shut your eyes and place the wet teabag on the eye with the stye.
  4. Let the teabag remain in place for another 5 minutes.
  5. Do this thrice daily for a few days until you eliminate the stye.

 

5. Garlic Juice:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: Fresh garlic cloves, pestle and mortar, some warm water, cotton wool and a strainer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Garlic juice is, undoubtedly, one of the most effective home remedies for eliminating bacterial infections. Its rich sulfur compounds help get rid of the bacterial infection by creating a hostile environment for the bacteria present. Once the garlic juice is applied on the affected eye, the bacterial population dwindles and the stye heals quickly. The warm water is added to create a base for the remedy as well as make it easy to apply.

Directions:

  1. Peel the cloves and proceed to wash before cutting to small pieces.
  2. Transfer the chopped garlic to the pestle and grind using the mortar.
  3. Add some warm water to create a thin paste.
  4. Strain the paste to get the juice.
  5. Soak the cotton wool in the juice and dab it carefully on the affected eyelid.
  6. Use this remedy thrice daily until you notice that the stye has cleared.

 

6. Castor Oil:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Warm soapy water, warm compress, cotton wool and castor oil.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Castor oil is laden with anti-inflammatory compounds that help deal with the pain that accompanies eye sties. Its healing properties also prove to be a great benefit for the home treatment of this eye infection. The warm compress is added to the remedy to allow for maximum absorption of the oil at the affected eyelid. As with the other remedies above, castor oil is intended for topical application on the eye stye.

Directions:

  1. Wash the affected eye using warm soapy water.
  2. Place the warm compress on the eye for 5 minutes to enhance blood circulation as well as improve the absorption of the oil’s active ingredients (known as ricinoleic acid).
  3. Remove the warm compress and then soak the cotton wool in the castor oil.
  4. Gently press the soaked cotton wool on the lumpy region of the eyelid as well as apply on the surrounding region.
  5. Use this remedy twice daily for a couple of days.

 

7. Cloves:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 5 Cloves, 1 cup of warm water, a strainer and a clean piece of cloth.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Cloves are recommended for the home treatment of eye stye because they aid in pain relief and reduce the discomfort of the lumpy region lodged in the eyelid. The cloves are also packed with antibacterial properties that help clear the infection, so that you get dual benefits from a simple home remedy. Get this handy remedy from your kitchen and make the best of it for stye treatment.

Directions:

  1. Take 5 cloves and soak them in a cup of warm water for 15 minutes.
  2. Strain the water into a bowl and discard the soaked cloves.
  3. Place the clean cloth in the water for a couple of minutes and squeeze out the excess water.
  4. Put the soaked cloth on your eyelid and let it stay for 5 minutes.
  5. Use this remedy thrice daily for the best results.

 

8. Coriander:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1/2  Tablespoon of coriander seeds, 1 cup or warm water, a strainer and a clean piece of cloth.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Coriander provides excellent solutions for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, largely due to its excellent anti-inflammatory properties. When used for the home treatment of eye stye, the coriander seeds help eliminate the pain and reduce the swelling. When used for 3 days or so, you should feel much better as the stye also clears rather fast.

Directions:

  1. Take 1/2 a tablespoon of coriander seeds and place in a cup before adding the water.
  2. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes and turn off the heat.
  3. Allow the mixture to cool before passing it through the strainer.
  4. Place the cloth in the water and use it to clean the infected eye.
  5. Repeat this thrice daily until the stye clears.

 

9. Leaves From the Guava Tree:

Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 3 Leaves from the guava tree, hot water and a clean piece of cloth.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Leaves obtained from the guava tree are a great home remedy, thanks to their natural healing traits. For this reason, the leaves are recommended for treating eye sties. What’s more, the leaves also possess anti-inflammatory properties which makes them effective for reducing the pain and swelling. Use this simple remedy to clear the infection n a few days.

Directions:

  1. Clean the leaves in hot water and let them steep for 5 minutes.
  2. Take the clean piece of cloth and soak it in another bowl of hot water.
  3. Squeeze the excess water from the clean towel and spread it out.
  4. Place the guava leaves in the hot cloth and cover well to create a seamless wrap.
  5. Let the cloth cool and then unwrap to take the leaves out.
  6. Place the guava leaf on the affected eyelid and leave on for 5 minutes.
  7. Discard and repeat the same procedure with the rest of the leaves.
  8. Use this remedy twice daily for 5 days.

 

Other remedies for the treatment of eye sties include potatoes which soothe the eye, onion juice which gets rid of the bacterial infection as well as parsley. In line with these remedies, you must observe clean hygiene as rubbing your eyes prior to hand washing worsens the infection. You must also avoid popping the stye because this often increases the spread of the infection. For the ladies, it helps to avoid using old makeup and makeup brushes as this provides a potential breeding ground for bacteria. If the sties do not clear even with the home remedies, make sure you see an optician for further medical attention